GOING TO A SINGLE 'A' PARK FOR THE FIRST TIME 3 HOURS AFTER
LEAVING A MAJOR LEAGUE PARK GIVES THE PARK AN UNFAIR START. MY VISIT TO STOCKTON CAME AFTER SEEING THE PARENT CLUB IN OAKLAND
THAT AFTERNOON.

I THOUGHT STOCKTON WAS A STANDARD NEW BALLPARK WHICH LACKED
ATMOSPHERE.

I FOUND BANNER ISLAND BALLPARK A LITTLE DIFFICULT TO FIND, MY
GOAL WAS TO FIND THE RIVER, WHICH I KNOW I CROSSED ON THE FREEWAY, BUT COULDN'T FIND ONCE OFF OF IT. I DON'T THINK I WAS THE
ONLY ONEBECAUSE I PAST A LOT OF HOUSES AND IT DIDN'T SEEM TO FAZE PEOPLE THAT I WAS PASSING THEM 2 OR 3 TIMES. ONCE FOUND,
I REALIZED WHY I COULDN'T FIND IT. A RATHER SMALL EXTERIOR RESTING BEHIND A VERY SMALL LOT WAS WAITING FOR ME. THERE IS A
DECENT SIZED $5 LOT ACROSS THE STREET AND MORE PARKING IN THE ARENA GARAGE SHOULD BE AVAILABLE.

ONCE TO THE GATE NOTHING REALLY STOOD OUT ABOUT THE PLACE. ENTERING
THE PARK BANNER ISLAND IS "JUST" ANOTHER NEW PARK WITH THE CONCOURSE AREA BEHIND THE STANDS, THIS ONE DOES WRAP AROUND THE
WHOLE PARK WHICH I'VE ALWAYS LIKED.

A SPARSE CROWD ON A SUNDAY EVENING REALLY HURT THE ATMOSPHERE
HERE, I BELIEVE THIS ALSO HURTS MY REVIEW OF THIS PARK. THE THING I'VE HEARDABOUT THIS PARK IS THE LOCATION ON THE
RIVER. SADLY, IT SEEMED THEY PUT THE PARK ON THE RIVER BUT UNLESS YOU GO OUT TO THE OUTFIELD YOU WON'T SEE IT. IT COULD HAVE
BEEN LOW TIDE AS WELL BUT THE RIVER SEEMED TO BEQUITE LOW FROM THE EDGE OF THE WALKWAY.

FOOD HERE IS PLENTIFUL, STANDARD, AND NOT CHEAP. CALIFORNIA THOUGH
SEEMS TO HAVE THE PRICE PLAN FIGURED OUT. THEY SEEM TO CHARGE $2 MORE FOR EVERYTHING BUT GIVE YOU A BIGGER CUP OR BIGGER PORTION.

BANNER ISLAND BALLPARK IN STOCKTON COMPARES TO MANY OTHER PARKS
I HAVE VISITED.I SEE LAKEWOOD FOR THE WRAP AROUND CONCOURSE, BUT THAT IS WHERE THE COMPARISON WITH LAKEWOOD ENDS.I
SEE MANCHESTER OR LOWELL IN THAT THEY HAVE THE RIVER BUT UNLIKE TRENTON, THEY DON'T SEEM TO USE IT.I SEE ERIE OR PORTLAND,
MAINE WITH THE ARENA SITUATED IN THE OUTFIELD.FINALLY, THEY DO HANDLE THE GAME FAIRLY WELL AND KEEP THE PROMOTIONS DOWN
TO A MINIMUM.

IF BANNER ISLAND PARK HAD SOME ATMOSPHERE THIS COULD BE A GREAT
PLACE TO SEE A GAME. FOR SOME REASON, I JUST DIDN'T FEEL ANYTHING HERE.